Major League Baseball 2017 Week 21 Betting Preview

Three wins from their last five games has kept the Houston Astros top of the American League, but they now face some huge fixtures as they play midweek home games against the Washington Nationals, second in the National League, before travelling to an in-form Los Angeles Angels for games over the weekend.

Elsewhere, the two teams chasing the Astros, the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians meet for four midweek games with eveything to play for. In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to go well, having suffered just two defeats from their last ten games. This week, they face mid-table opposition in the shape of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers, and could cement their place at the top, especially if the Washington Nationals drop points at the Houston Astros. Four wins from five games has seen the Chicago Cubs move up to third place going into their games this week. Read Sports.net’s MLB betting preview ahead of the upcoming action.

The Games

The Houston Astros have rediscovered some form, achieving two wins against a threatening Arizona Diamondbacks, before two more wins against the Oaklands Athletics. However, their last game against the Athletics saw them lose 3-2, which was the Athletics only win in five games. Tough opposition await in the shape of the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels, in what looks to be a very important week for the Astros and their Play Off chances.

The Boston Red Sox picked up two important wins against the fourth-placed New York Yankees, but suffered a narrow defeat to them in between those two successes. Now facing the third-placed Cleveland Indians, the Red Sox lost to them narrowly again in their first game, 5-4, but have three more games to claw back some points. Boston then host the mid-table Baltimore Orioles over the weekend, where wins could be very important.

If the Cleveland Indians have success against the Red Sox, they could move above them in the American League when they face weekend fixtures with the Kansas City Royals. Cleveland recently enjoyed two comfortable wins over the Royals, and are sure to be looking for more wins when they meet again.

The LA Dodgers continue to produce the goods to stay clear at the top of the National League. They now face a week of fixtures against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers, where it is hard to see anything other than more success for the Dodgers.

The Washington Nationals have a tough midweek trip to American League leaders, the Houston Astros, before welcoming the New York Mets to Nationals Park. The Nationals know they must keep finding wins as the Chicago Cubs are looming large in third-place and look to have an easier week of fixtures when they face the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies.

The Bets

The games between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians are the stand out midweek fixtures, with both teams in similar form. The Red Sox have been excellent recently, and after an initial defeat, should offer good value to pick up wins later in the week at the Indians. But Cleveland can then bounce back with weekend wins against the Kansas City Royals.

The Chicago Cubs can be successful this week against two sides struggling near the bottom of the National League, but one team struggling near the bottom of the American League can enjoy success, and we’re backing the Oakland Athletics to beat the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

The information contained on Sports.net is solely for the entertainment of players and prospective players of the sports and games featured on the site.
These are informational pages only and are not intended to encourage participation. If you feel you have a problem, please visit the Gambling Addiction page.
18+